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'They're Experimenting?' Hanuma Vihari Criticizes Team Management for Resting Rohit, Kohli

image-lktg40vcRohit Sharma & Virat Kohli were underused in WI ODIs (Twitter)

Indian cricketer Hanuma Vihari has raised doubts about the team management's decision to rest seasoned players Rohit Sharma and Virat Kohli during the West Indies series. He proposed that if their participation was uncertain, sending them back home might have been a better option.

In the second ODI of the three-match series in Barbados, both Rohit and Kohli were rested, and this pattern continued into the third and final ODI. Remarkably, India secured a resounding 200-run victory, sealing the series 2-1 under the interim leadership of Hardik Pandya. 

In a discussion on JioCinema, Vihari expressed his views on the situation, suggesting that the management's approach appeared experimental. He emphasized the desire for the strongest team on the field, especially with the World Cup approaching. Vihari also pondered over whether the absence of Rohit Sharma was due to an injury or merely a rest.

"They're experimenting, isn't it? I would love to have Rohit and Virat back because just before the World Cup we want our best team to be on the park and, you know, competing. Especially when it's a series decided as well. There's all to fight for. But again, whether it's a niggle or it just resting, Rohit Sharma, we never know," Hanuma Vihari told JioCinema.

Vihari further questioned the logic of playing only the first ODI and then resting for the subsequent one, particularly when Rohit did not even get to bat in the first match.

"But Hardik Pandya has got another chance today. So the better they go, come back to India and rested up. They played only the first ODI and they didn't get to bat as well. Rohit batted at the end, so it didn't make sense them just playing the first and then resting the next one. So it didn't make sense, did it?"  Vihari further added.

The recently concluded ODI series against the West Indies presented India with the optimal chance, potentially the final one, to test fringe players and offer them match experience, should they be considered for selection in the World Cup squad.